GENETIC-PARAMETERS FOR 1ST LACTATION AND LIFETIME PRODUCTION TRAITS IN FRIESIAN-HARIANA AND FRIESIAN-SAHIWAL HALFBREDS ESTIMATED BY MULTIPLE-TRAIT MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD PROCEDURE

A multitrait maximum likelihood procedure was used to obtain estimates of heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations between first lactation and lifetime production traits in Friesian-Hariana (FH) and Friesian-Sahiwal (FS) halfbreds. Data on 1 380 FS and 690 FH halfbred cows maintained at 6 military dairy farm (Ambala, Agra, Bareilly, Jhan si, Lucknow and Meerut) from 1961 to 1988 were used. Same model was us ed for both genetic groups. Multiple-trait mixed model used included y ear, season and farm as fixed effects and sires as random effects. The heritabilities for AFC and FCI were low in both genetic groups. Herit abilities for FLMY were 0.22+/-0.12 and 0.16+/-0.10 in FS and FH halfb reds respectively. Heritability of FLP was of similar magnitude (0. 18 ) in both genetic groups. Heritabilities for NLC, HL and LTMY were low in both genetic groups. The AFC had negative genetic correlation with FLMY, FCI and FLP in both genetic groups. Lifetime production traits were genetically independent of AFC. The FLMY had high positive geneti c correlations with LTMY and LTP. Genetic correlations among lifetime production traits ranged between 0.44+/-0.26 and 0.84+/-0.39 in FS and between 0.37+/-0.21 to 0.76+/-0.31 in FH. These results suggested tha t selection based on FLMY would be expected to reduce AFC and increase lifetime production and profit.